Best Restaurants in Springdale Near Zion National Park
Looking for the best restaurants in Springdale near Zion National Park? Discover where to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, pizza, coffee, desserts, and dining inside Zion.
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
After spending all day hiking, riding the shuttle, and staring up at those towering canyon walls in Zion National Park, you’re going to need food.
Fortunately, Springdale delivers.
One thing that surprised me during our Utah Mighty 5 road trip was just how many genuinely good restaurants there were packed into this tiny town. In some national park gateway communities, dining options can feel pretty limited. Springdale was the opposite. Whether you’re looking for breakfast before hitting the trails, a quick lunch between hikes, pizza for the whole family, or a memorable dinner after a long day in the park, you’ll find plenty of choices.
We spent several days exploring Zion and ate our way through quite a few of Springdale’s restaurants. Some of these recommendations come directly from our own experience, while others are highly-rated local favorites that consistently earn rave reviews from visitors.
If you’re planning a trip, this guide covers exactly where to eat in Springdale, including breakfast spots, family-friendly restaurants, dessert stops, and even dining inside Zion National Park.
Quick Restaurant Comparison Guide
| Restaurant | Price | Best For | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek Coffee | $ | Breakfast & Coffee | No |
| MeMe’s Cafe | $$ | Breakfast & Lunch | No |
| Oscar’s Cafe | $$ | Huge Portions & Burgers | No |
| Bit & Spur | $$-$$$ | Dinner | Recommended |
| Zion Pizza & Noodle Company | $$ | Families | No |
| Zion Canyon Brew Pub | $$ | Casual Lunch & Dinner | No |
| Red Rock Grill (Zion Lodge) | $$-$$$ | Eating Inside the Park | No |
| Bumbleberry Inn Bakery | $ | Dessert | No |
Deep Creek Coffee: The Perfect Start to a Zion Day
Address: 932 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, UT
Price: $
Known For: Coffee, breakfast burritos, smoothies, baked goods
Every national park town seems to have that one place where everyone gathers before heading out for the day.
In Springdale, that place is Deep Creek Coffee.
This became our morning survival stop before heading into Zion. The location couldn’t be more convenient, especially if you’re staying nearby and trying to get an early start before the crowds arrive.
I know people absolutely rave about the coffee here. I should probably have a stronger opinion on that, but I’m not much of a coffee drinker. Don’t come at me.
What I can tell you is that I loved my strawberry smoothie. It was cold, refreshing, and exactly what sounded good on a warm Utah morning.
The breakfast burritos were also surprisingly filling without feeling heavy or greasy. That’s a delicate balance when you’re about to spend the next several hours hiking.
The baked goods deserve a mention too. We tried one of the scones, and it tasted homemade in the best possible way—slightly crumbly, fresh, and not overloaded with sugar.
If you’re planning an early shuttle ride into Zion, this is one of the best places in town to fuel up first.
If Zion is just one stop on a larger adventure, don’t miss my guide to the best places to eat on a Utah Mighty 5 road trip, including restaurant recommendations near all five national parks.
MeMe’s Cafe: A Great Backup Plan That Turned Into a Pleasant Surprise
Address: 897 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, UT
Price: $$
Known For: Crepes, breakfast, salads, sandwiches
Funny enough, we ended up here because another restaurant was too busy.
After hiking the Lower Emerald Pools Trail, we planned to grab lunch at Zion Lodge inside the park. Unfortunately, so did everyone else.
When we got there, the wait was around an hour and a half.
At that point, nobody in our family was interested in standing around hungry, so we hopped back on the shuttle and headed back into Springdale.
That detour led us to MeMe’s Cafe.
I wish I had taken photos because the food was good, but at the time I wasn’t planning on writing a restaurant guide. I remember ordering a salad and appreciating something lighter after several days of vacation food.
MeMe’s is best known for its crepes, and you’ll see them on almost every table. The menu also includes sandwiches, wraps, salads, and breakfast favorites.
If you’re looking for a casual lunch spot that’s a little different from burgers and pizza, this is a great option.
Bit & Spur: Our Favorite Dinner in Springdale
Address: 1212 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, UT
Price: $$-$$$
Known For: Southwestern cuisine, tacos, enchiladas, cocktails, outdoor patio
This was probably our favorite dinner in Springdale.
Part of that might be because our hotel was literally across the street. After a long day in Zion, it was awfully nice to walk across the road instead of getting back in the car.
But mostly, it was because the food was genuinely good.
We walked in tired, hungry, and ready to eat just about anything.
I ordered the shrimp tacos.
You know those meals where you take a few bites and suddenly stop talking because you’re focused entirely on the food?
That was this.
The shrimp had a slightly smoky flavor, the toppings tasted fresh, and everything felt balanced. Nothing was overly heavy or drowning in sauce.
My husband ordered the enchiladas, and they completely hit the spot after a day of hiking.
The atmosphere was another thing we loved. Bit & Spur manages to feel relaxed, local, and slightly artsy without trying too hard. It’s not fancy or rushed. But it is super comfortable.
And then there was dessert.
Because apparently hiking all day gives you permission to make questionable dessert decisions.
We shared the mint ice cream chocolate bundt cake covered in hot fudge.
It was enormous.
Rich, chocolatey, completely over-the-top, and absolutely worth ordering.
My daughter loved it so much she ended up getting one for herself.
No regrets.
If you’re only planning one sit-down dinner in Springdale, Bit & Spur would be very high on my list.
Looking for a place to stay nearby? Check out my guide to where to stay for a Utah Mighty 5 road trip, including our favorite Zion-area hotel and other lodging recommendations.
Zion Pizza & Noodle Company: The Family Crowd-Pleaser
Address: 868 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, UT
Price: $$
Known For: Pizza, pasta, stromboli
Sometimes after a long day in a national park, nobody wants to debate where to eat.
You just want pizza.
Zion Pizza & Noodle Company is perfect for those nights.
We ordered pizza, pasta, and stromboli, and everyone left happy.
The pizza crust had that slightly chewy texture that makes you keep reaching for another slice even when you’re full. The pasta portions were generous, and everything felt hearty and satisfying.
One thing that makes this place unique is the atmosphere.
While you’re waiting for your table, head downstairs and browse the attached art gallery and photography shop.
It’s actually really nice and gives you something interesting to do while waiting for your food. We spent quite a bit of time wandering around looking at the photography and artwork before our table was ready.
For families with kids, groups with different tastes, or anyone craving comfort food after hiking Zion, this is an easy recommendation.
After working up an appetite on some of Zion’s most scenic trails, check out my guide to the best easy hikes in Zion National Park for more family-friendly adventures.
Oscar’s Cafe: Springdale’s Legendary Portion Sizes
Address: 948 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, UT
Price: $$
Known For: Massive burgers, Southwestern dishes, breakfast
We didn’t get a chance to eat at Oscar’s during this trip, but it’s probably the restaurant people recommended to us most often.
In fact, it’s located directly across the street from Deep Creek Coffee, so every morning while we were grabbing breakfast, we’d see people heading over there.
If you start researching where to eat in Springdale, Oscar’s appears again and again.
Visitors consistently rave about the enormous portions, burgers, breakfast options, and Southwestern specialties.
Many travelers specifically recommend the Murder Burger, breakfast burritos, and fish tacos.
If you have a big appetite after hiking Angels Landing, The Narrows, or Observation Point, Oscar’s is probably going to make you happy.
Zion Canyon Brew Pub: Casual Food with Great Views
Address: 95 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale, UT
Price: $$
Known For: Burgers, sandwiches, local beer, patio seating
Another restaurant that consistently receives excellent reviews is Zion Canyon Brew Pub.
The menu leans toward burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pub-style favorites.
Its location near the park entrance makes it a convenient stop before or after entering Zion.
Even if you’re not a beer drinker, many visitors recommend it simply for the outdoor seating and mountain views.
If Bit & Spur is known for its Southwestern flair, Zion Canyon Brew Pub tends to be the place travelers recommend for a casual meal with classic crowd-pleasing options.
Where to Eat Inside Zion National Park
Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge
Address: Zion Lodge, Zion National Park
Price: $$-$$$
Known For: Burgers, sandwiches, salads, Southwestern-inspired entrees
If you’d rather stay inside the park for lunch, Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge is your primary option.
We actually intended to eat there after hiking Lower Emerald Pools.
Then we saw the wait.
An hour and a half.
Needless to say, we changed plans.
That experience taught us something useful, though.
If you want to eat at Zion Lodge, try to avoid peak lunch hours. The convenience of eating inside the park is hard to beat, which means lots of other visitors have the same idea.
The food gets solid reviews, but patience may be required.
For visitors who don’t want to leave the park during the day, it’s still the most convenient dining option available.
Only have a single day in the park? My Zion National Park 1-day itinerary shows exactly how to fit Zion’s highlights into one unforgettable day—including where to stop for meals along the way.
Bumbleberry Inn Bakery: Save Room for Dessert
Address: 97 Bumbleberry Lane, Springdale, UT
Price: $
Known For: Ice cream, pie, cookies, fudge, baked goods
Let’s talk about dessert.
Because Bumbleberry deserves its own category.
We originally stopped here for ice cream.
That was the plan.
Then we walked inside.
Suddenly there were cookies, pies, macarons, fudge, brownies, pastries, and enough sugar to power an entire hiking season.
So naturally, the original plan changed.
The bakery case is dangerous in the best possible way.
We ended up sampling several different treats, and everything looked fresh and tempting.
The ice cream was excellent, the fudge selection was impressive, and the bakery items made it nearly impossible to choose just one thing.
One thing I quickly learned while traveling through southern Utah is that people take pie very seriously here. Bumbleberry is one of the places that helped me understand why.
If you’re staying in Springdale for multiple days, there’s a decent chance you’ll find yourself here more than once.
Best Springdale Restaurants by Category
Breakfast
- Deep Creek Coffee
- MeMe’s Cafe
Lunch
- Oscar’s Cafe
- MeMe’s Cafe
Family Restaurant
- Zion Pizza & Noodle Company
Dinner
- Bit & Spur
Dessert
- Bumbleberry Inn Bakery
Best Restaurant Inside Zion National Park
- Red Rock Grill
Best Overall Variety
- Zion Canyon Brew Pub
If You Only Have One Day in Zion
Breakfast: Deep Creek Coffee
Lunch: Oscar’s Cafe or MeMe’s Cafe
Dinner: Bit & Spur
Dessert: Bumbleberry Inn Bakery
That’s about as good a food day as you’re going to have in Springdale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant near Zion National Park?
Bit & Spur was our favorite sit-down dinner, while Oscar’s Cafe is probably the most frequently recommended restaurant in Springdale.
Is there food inside Zion National Park?
Yes. Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge is the primary full-service restaurant inside the park.
Do you need reservations in Springdale?
Most casual restaurants don’t require reservations, but popular dinner spots can get busy during peak travel seasons.
Is food expensive in Springdale?
Springdale isn’t cheap. Like many national park gateway towns, prices are a bit higher than average. The good news is that portions are generally generous and the food quality is often quite good.
Where should I eat breakfast before entering Zion?
Deep Creek Coffee and MeMe’s Cafe are both excellent choices before heading into the park.
What is the best dessert in Springdale?
Bumbleberry Inn Bakery is hard to beat thanks to its ice cream, pies, cookies, macarons, and fudge.
Final Thoughts
Springdale may be small, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to food.
We found everything from excellent shrimp tacos and giant chocolate desserts to fresh breakfast burritos, homemade baked goods, pizza, smoothies, and ice cream.
More importantly, we never felt like we were settling for whatever happened to be available near the park.
Whether you’re planning a quick Zion weekend or spending several days exploring the area, you’ll have no trouble finding good food between adventures.
Just don’t make the mistake of skipping dessert at Bumbleberry.
And if you do decide to try lunch at Zion Lodge, maybe have a backup plan ready… just in case the wait is an hour and a half long like ours was. 😄
More National Park Dining Guides
Good food can make a great national park trip even better. If you’re planning additional adventures, here are some of my favorite dining guides from other national park destinations:
- Best Places to Eat on a Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip – Restaurant recommendations near Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and Kanab.
- Where to Eat Near Olympic National Park – Fresh seafood, cozy lodges, local cafes, and favorite restaurants around Port Angeles, Forks, Lake Crescent, and the Washington coast.
- Where to Eat In and Near Yellowstone National Park – The best restaurants and food options inside the park, plus in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Mammoth, Canyon Village, and other Yellowstone gateway communities.
- Where to Eat Near Grand Teton National Park – Great dining options in Jackson, Moose, and the surrounding area, from casual lunches to memorable dinners with mountain views.
After all, a day spent exploring incredible landscapes is even better when it ends with a great meal.
